Macarthur FC invests in its community with new ‘Bulls in Schools’ program

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Macarthur FC Bulls in Schools
Image credit: Macarthur FC

Macarthur FC has partnered with the NSW Government to instigate a new community outreach program ‘Bulls in Schools’.

The program that will be based in south-west Sydney will be a partnership between A-League clubs Macarthur, Western Sydney Wanderers and the NSW government.

The deal is set to benefit up to 40,000 students and will focus on delivering football programs to school students within the region the clubs are based out of.

The Football in Schools Program that Bulls in Schools is a component of is set to be a major part of the upcoming NSW state budget.

The program will last for four years and will cost $14.5 million.

It is set to feature a wide range of initiatives that will aim to get more students to participate in sport.

These programs will mainly centre on after school programs and are set to be delivered both in-schools and on-site at the Bulls and Wanders A-league training facilities.

In the spirit of diversity, the program is set to include targeted female, multicultural, and all-abilities programs.

NSW Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, spoke of the opportunity that this program will have for so many students.

“40,000 kids will be able to participate in football programs with some of the best footballers and coaches in our nation,” he said via press release.

“The Football in Schools Program will see more Western Sydney students participating in sport and enjoying the benefits of that it offers. “We understand that families in Western Sydney are feeling the crunch of cost-of-living pressures and this free program will ensure that no child regardless of their background or ability misses out.”

Prue Car, Member for Western Sydney and NSW Minister for Education, also added to these sentiments.

“Education is not just about books and laptops, some of the best lessons in life are on the sports field,” she said via press release.

“By working in partnership with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur FC, the Football in Schools Program will bring the classroom to the football pitch.”

Macarthur FC Chairman Gino Marra added to the club’s delight in being able to use this opportunity to engrain itself further in the south-west Sydney community.

“This commitment by the NSW Government into our Bulls in Schools and community program is a major investment into the future of south-west Sydney,” he said via press release.

“The key pillars our community programs are health & wellbeing, education and inclusion. We are proud to have had more than 60,000 children take part and today’s commitment from the state government will significantly expand the scope of our program across our region.”

This is a huge announcement both in terms of supporting the local community and developing football in NSW.

By having both major south-western Sydney clubs joined together on this program it shows the ability of major stake holders in the sport to come together for the sport and its next generation development.

Even though football at the highest level is naturally competitive, it is great to see clubs put aside these difference in order to help grow the game in diverse and inclusive ways.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

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Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

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